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Post by jshuey on May 29, 2018 21:24:57 GMT
Insects are not common in Maya iconography. You see a bunch of butterflies and scorpions in Aztec art, but this is the first time I've seen anything like this from the Maya world.
Took this photo in the Guatemalan National Archeological Museum this morning. The plate is from Tikal, in the Peten of Guatemala. I think they are cockroaches.... What do you think?
John Attachments:
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Post by exoticimports on May 30, 2018 2:33:11 GMT
Clearly goliathus regius and proof of pre christian cross Atlantic trade.
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Post by nomihoudai on May 30, 2018 6:37:39 GMT
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Post by isidro on Jun 26, 2018 7:10:01 GMT
Clearly goliathus regius and proof of pre christian cross Atlantic trade. CLEARLY Goliathus regius?!?!?!?!?!? Gosh... The only clear thing about it is that it never can be a Goliathus. The possibility of representing a Zopherus is tempting, overall due to the ethnical importance of these beetles in precolombine cultures (even until today). However, the representations are too iconic for think in Zopherus. As the own author said, the possibility of a cockroach looks much more reliable. For example a Blaberus. They are much more coincident in shape and colours than a Zopherus and than almost any beetle. |
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Post by jshuey on Jun 26, 2018 14:05:36 GMT
Clearly goliathus regius and proof of pre christian cross Atlantic trade. CLEARLY Goliathus regius?!?!?!?!?!? Gosh... The only clear thing about it is that it never can be a Goliathus. The possibility of representing a Zopherus is tempting, overall due to the ethnical importance of these beetles in precolombine cultures (even until today). However, the representations are too iconic for think in Zopherus. As the own author said, the possibility of a cockroach looks much more reliable. For example a Blaberus. They are much more coincident in shape and colours than a Zopherus and than almost any beetle. I'm staying with my original cockroach ID for three reasons. First that is what it looks like! Second, wild cockroaches are very common in the forests of the region - including large species that approach 4-5 cm (which is about the size of the bugs on this ancient piece of pottery). Finally, if I were to claim a second interest in life besides entomology, it would be Maya history. I've read a fair amount of the primary literature and as many "popular" books as I can, and I've never heard anything about this 'Makech' story that shows up on the web. I've even visited Maya countries a few times over the years (like perhaps 30 trips covering most of southern Mexico, Belize and Guatemala) - and this is the first time I've seen insects in Maya iconography. And by the way - I've never seen anyone wearing a Jeweled beetle in Mesoamerica - even in the few weeks I've spent in Merida - - so it's not all that big of a fad.... John |
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Post by exoticimports on Jun 26, 2018 18:38:17 GMT
Who the #*)@ would put cockroaches on a nice ceramic like that? Really? You think they were idiots? Now, I can see how upon receiving a shipment of Goliathus from Liberia-to-be one might paint that on such a utensil.
So anyway off topic...I'm taking a guided tour of Teotihuacan and the guide is telling us that the white flooring is original, made from some sort of chalk or stone paste. So I say, oh really? Is this an original woman's high heeled shoe print in this floor? "mebbe ze make some new floor some place" replies the guide. What was really cool is that was less than 24 hours after Alien vs. Predator opened.
Rambling on...they say take nothing but photos leave nothing but footprints. I left Lamanai with 174 mosquito bites.
But when I was there we rang Belize natural resources and in 20 minutes had a collecting permit. Try that with USFWS.
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Post by isidro on Jun 26, 2018 20:06:20 GMT
Errare humanum est, sed perseverare diabolicum.
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Post by exoticimports on Jun 26, 2018 20:19:18 GMT
Did I mention I have a (reproduction) stellae of 18 Rabbit?
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